With the popularization of 3D printing technology, the application scenarios of various printing materials are becoming more and more extensive. At present, civil 3D printing materials mainly include ABS, PETG, TPU and PLA, as well as PLA+ (i.e. PLA Plus). Among the many choices, PLA+ is gradually becoming the preferred material for both home users, studios, and schools and educational institutions with its unique advantages. Why exactly is PLA+ favored over ABS, PETG and TPU? Below is a table comparing the various materials:

Comparison from the above table shows that ABS filament material is easy to warp and has irritating odor, which is not suitable for educational institutions such as families and schools; while PETG filament material has chemical and water resistance, and is also tougher, but the surface is easy to pull, and the difficulty of printing is increased; TPU filament material has better elasticity and abrasion resistance, but the printing is slow and difficult, which is not suitable for educational institutions such as families and schools; PLA filament material is environmentally friendly, lower warpage, and smooth surface, but the relative heat resistance is a little worse, toughness and strength in general, is not suitable for applications with greater strength; PLA + filament material compared to the PLA filament material has a greater promotion, not only in the mechanical properties and toughness on the promotion, and the surface is better smooth and delicate, but also more environmentally friendly, the current drawback is that the temperature of the printing is slightly higher, weather resistance is limited, suitable for Functional parts, decorations and other light functional components, ideal for home, studio and schools and other educational institutions.

Below is a table comparing these materials according to educational scenarios such as home, studio, and school:

As we can see from the table, the materials that can be used at home, in studios, and in educational institutions are both PLA and PLA+ materials, and PLA+ materials have even better performance than PLA, so nowadays, people are becoming more and more fond of PLA and PLA+ in terms of 3D printing materials.

6 reasons why PLA and PLA+ filament materials are favored by people

PLA (Polylactic Acid) is widely loved in 3D printing, especially in scenarios such as home, education, and prototyping. Here are the reasons why PLA materials are highly favored:

1. Ease of use

Easy to print, PLA has a low printing temperature (180-230°C), low hardware requirements for 3D printers, and does not require a high-temperature heated bed (but a heated bed can further improve printing results). And low warping, almost no warping or deformation when printing, especially suitable for beginners and users who lack professional equipment.

2. Environmental protection and safety

Biodegradable, PLA is made of renewable resources such as corn starch, which is an environmentally friendly material and easy to degrade. So it is non-toxic and odorless, no harmful gases or irritating odors will be released during the printing process, which is perfect for places that need to protect health such as homes and schools, as no special ventilation requirements are needed.

3. Low cost

PLA is one of the cheapest 3D printing materials, which is cost-effective and perfect for large-scale use and beginner practice. And with a wide range of PLA materials, almost all 3D printing suppliers offer a wealth of PLA options.

4. Fine Material

The surface of PLA prints is smooth and delicate, with excellent details, and good results can be obtained without complicated post-processing. And PLA provides rich colors and special effect versions (such as transparent, fluorescent, wood grain, etc.), which is suitable for creative production and display.

5. Wide range of application

Suitable for a variety of scenarios, the comparison of the above content can be seen, PLA is widely used in modeling, toys, decorations, educational presentations and other fields. Because of PLA's ease of use, safety and aesthetics and other characteristics, whether you are a beginner in the family, or a professional studio, as well as schools and other educational institutions, PLA is very suitable.

6. Good printing device compatibility

Compatible with almost all FDM 3D printers, PLA is the most commonly used material in FDM technology, with high device adaptability. No special requirements, closed printing environments or high-performance nozzles are needed.

Below is a table comparing the material properties of PLA and PLA+:

Summarizing

The main reasons for the popularity of PLA are ease of use, safety, economy, environmental friendliness and aesthetics. PLA+ maintains this ease of use while delivering even better performance, making it ideal for users who require a certain level of functionality and high-quality print results. Whether it's for home users, studios or educational scenarios, PLA is the ideal choice. Although it lacks in strength and heat resistance, PLA, as well as PLA+, is more than adequate for most everyday applications and creative design scenarios, making it the material of choice for home, education and many studios.